PETER'S HOUSE-TOP VISION.
By W. N. Glenn
MODERN epicureans find much satisfaction in the vessel of promiscuous animals, creeping things, and fowls which Peter saw in a trance at Joppa. They lay particular stress upon Acts 10:9–16, which tells what occurred during the trance, but do not read enough of the chapter to find the lesson intended to be taught by the vision. So many refer to this scripture as proof that under the gospel it is proper to eat anything fancy may suggest or appetite crave, that a few thoughts on the subject may not be amiss. The Lord had a much greater object in view than the mere gratification of human appetite. The duty of preaching the gospel to the whole world was the lesson to be inculcated, as a careful reading of the entire chapter will plainly show. Some striking manifestation seemed necessary to convince the apostles that the Gentiles were to be included in the gospel message; for notwithstanding their commission was to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," they had labored several years with the Jews only. The day before Peter's trance at Joppa, one Cornelius, a Gentile, had a vision at Cesarea. He was a man who feared God, and Heaven responded to his prayers and good deeds. An angel told him to send to Joppa for Peter, who would tell him what he ought to do. Accordingly messengers were dispatched, and as they came near to Joppa, Peter went upon the house-top to pray. "And he became very hungry, and would have eaten; but while they made ready he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven." Verses 10–16. While Peter was thinking about the vision, the messengers from Cornelius arrived, and the Spirit said to the apostle, "Get thee down and go with them, for I have sent them." Now we will see how Peter understood the things that had been shown him. He went with the men to Cesarea, and "found many that were come together" at the house of Cornelius, waiting for him. Verse 28: "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean." So much for Peter's interpretation. Now we will turn to the 11th chapter and see how others understood it. When Peter afterwards came to Jerusalem (the news having preceded him), he found there apostles and brethren ready to upbraid him for having had communication with the uncircumcised. Verse 3: "But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them." And after the whole story had been told to these apostles and brethren, we find their verdict recorded in the 18th verse: "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." So far as the record goes, it did not occur to any one at that time, that God had literally cleansed all the filthy creatures of the earth and made them fit for food. This idea is of modern conception. Peter, to whom the vision was presented, and the apostles and brethren to whom it was related, realized only the lesson that they "should not call any man common or unclean," and that "repentance unto life" was free for all. And this is a lesson worthy of being taught upon the house-tops to the end of probation.